AFTER a dramatic last-ball finish to beat Milnthorpe, Burneside will aim to make Westmorland Cricket League history by landing a third successive Hackney and Leigh Trophy final.

A win against Arnside, who overcame league champions Warton, would make Burneside the first side to complete the trophy hat-trick and would provide an 11th success in the competition since it began back in 1975.

In yet another close contest between Burneside and Milnthorpe, the semi-final match ended with Burneside tying the scores with one ball remaining, and a streaky four from David Batty set up the final with Arnside at Ambleside CC on August 14.

Milnthorpe opted to bat first but lost two wickets in the first over - Chris Baldwin caught behind and Andrew Pennington bowled by Steve Airey.

Airey picked up the scalp of Mike Wills two overs later and Milnthorpe were really on the ropes at 19-5 as Colin Whitehouse flashed a Ben Leacock delivery to Ryan Shepherd, before he accounted for Jono Cooper.

Lee Illingworth (40) and Mike Halhead stopped the rot with a 20-run stand before Mike Curran (20) joined Illingworth to take the score to 90.

When both batsmen were out Milnthorpe closed on 119 in the last over as Airey took 3-9 off five overs.

There was smooth progress for Burneside as Rob Davies and Ryan Shepherd took Burneside to 40-1 off eight overs despite the early dismissal of Simon Huck.

Shepherd went for 30 to Mike Curran but Burneside still looked comfortable at 64-2 at drinks.

But Milnthorpe clawed their way back into the tie with Illingworth striking three times in two overs as Burneside stumbled to 97-7, leaving them needing 23 from the last four overs.

Two wickets and 18 runs later, Burneside wanted five runs from the final over, with only one wicket remaining.

After three dot balls and four singles the scores were level with one ball left to be bowled.

But a thick inside edge past the stumps took the ball to the boundary and Burneside into the final as Illingworth finished on 3-24.

Kevin Howarth’s unbeaten knock of 95 put Arnside into the final as they overcame Warton on Sunday.

Adam Richardson (37) and Adrian Lee (15) got the innings off to a decent start before Howarth came to the crease.

As his supporting batsmen went to ground, Howarth held the innings together as Arnside made 189-8.

Paul Wilson (2-28) was the pick of the Warton bowling.

Arnside took a major wicket early on with Tony Barrow being run out for a duck, while Phil Bovis was caught behind off Mike Shepherd early doors.

Ricky Nelson (29) and Matthew Poole (21) restored Warton hopes before captain Graeme Crowther came to the crease.

Crowther (21) batted well and moved the attack along but when he was out, Warton were at 97-4 with the game in the balance.

Nelson was caught at point off David Birch and Crowther was out to Ian Bullow (3-30) as Warton struggled to chase 189, and when Paul Wilson (19) and Dan Dixon (29) were out, Arnside progressed with Warton all out for 168.

Netherfield Thirds were denied a final appearance when they suffered a 63-run defeat at Galgate in the Lancaster Trophy Centre Trophy (Division 3) semi-final.

Half-centuries from N Cunliffe (59) and T Speak (55) formed the backbone of their total of 197 for seven and Netherfield were always struggling in reply before being dismissed for 134.